Independence Air iClub - San Juan it is!

Independence Air Announces Its First-Ever Caribbean Destination: Airbus Service From Washington Dulles to San Juan, Puerto Rico
Wednesday September 28, 3:33 pm ET


DULLES, Va., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Low-fare airline Independence Air (Nasdaq: FLYI - News) is announcing new nonstop service from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) beginning December 16, 2005. Service will be aboard FLYi's 132-passenger Airbus A319 aircraft.

The flight schedule will include one daily roundtrip, departing from Washington at 9:30am and from San Juan at 3:20pm. Tickets for the new nonstop Caribbean flights to/from Washington are available for sale now at http://www.FLYi.com. Tickets for connecting flights from other Independence Air destinations to/from San Juan will be available shortly.

Independence Air Chairman and CEO Kerry Skeen said, "All of us are very excited about introducing San Juan to the Independence Air route network -- just in time for the holidays and the upcoming winter travel season. For our customers in the Washington, DC area as well as all our other FLYi cities, this new service is the perfect solution for everyone who's looking for a fast, easy and inexpensive way to get to the Caribbean."

This deployment is one element in an overall strategic plan designed to increase total A319 departures by serving more Eastern destinations -- including new Airbus flights to Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Chicago -- while reducing service West of the Mississippi. As of November 29th, Las Vegas will remain as Independence Air's only destination in the West.

Independence Air offers low fares every day with comfortable leather seats and Tender Loving Service(SM). For more information about FLYi, Inc. and Independence Air, please visit our website at FLYi.com.

Independence Air is the low-fare airline that makes travel fast and easy for its customers with a customer-first attitude, innovative thinking and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Independence Air, the "i" logo mark, FLYi, FLYi.com, and Tender Loving Service are service marks of Independence Air, Inc.




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Source: Independence Air

I like the airline and sure they are still around on December 16th.

Just received that. Kinda nice to see some excitement amongst the gloomy news.

Airbus to Chicago, too? Excellent.

Do they need any special certification to fly to San Juan? (Some type of overwater flying cert?)

The other question - doesn't San Juan break with their attempt to fly shorter trips? SJU is further from IAD than a western location like DEN. (though it is 500 miles shorter than LAS) I wonder if they did some research to find a pent-up demand for SJU? (I can easily see B6 with all the Puerto Ricans in NYC, but DC?)

And the other big question - will the actually survive long enough to start flying this? Or will it by like ATA's launch of service to Gary, Indiana, that, do to Ch. 11 got dropped a few days before it was supposed to start.

Do they need any special certification to fly to San Juan? (Some type of overwater flying cert?)

The other question - doesn't San Juan break with their attempt to fly shorter trips? SJU is further from IAD than a western location like DEN. (though it is 500 miles shorter than LAS) I wonder if they did some research to find a pent-up demand for SJU? (I can easily see B6 with all the Puerto Ricans in NYC, but DC?)

And the other big question - will the actually survive long enough to start flying this? Or will it by like ATA's launch of service to Gary, Indiana, that, do to Ch. 11 got dropped a few days before it was supposed to start.


I would think they do need life rafts as the normal routing would take you more than 60 miles offshore. So that means overwater training for the flight crews and possible class 2 nav training for the pilots.

As far as demand goes....American flies a daily flight already from IAD and USair does a Saturday service.

UAL will begin daily nonstop service December 18 with TED. They currently have a Saturday/Sunday only mainline service triangle IAD-STT-SJU-IAD, That gets bumped up to four times a week, so two UAL flights, one Ted and one mainline, will depart from SJU-IAD within 50 minutes of each other. Both are on the 320.

DC

PS For some reason though my mind keeps thinking I heard that American is pulling their flight....or was it USAirways?

SJU is a popular cruise port with some large ships based there, and airfare there is pretty high. Probably a good move if they can keep themselves in business long enough.

My first thoughts....will they even be in business long enough to begin service to SJU?

If they are still around come December 16, I'm sure our fellow FTer Carfield will fly on their inaugural service flight and provide a detailed trip report. ^

SJU is a popular cruise port with some large ships based there, and airfare there is pretty high. Probably a good move if they can keep themselves in business long enough.

Not unless you're CHI or NYC where fares hover around 200 all in

My first thoughts....will they even be in business long enough to begin service to SJU?

I doubt that they would undertake the effort required to start this service if they didn't at least think they had a good chance of making it work.

On a side note: I'm more than a little disturbed by the efforts of some posters to take every single bit of news regarding DH and add in "if they stay in business long enough."

I can't help but notice that most of these posts come from locations like Chicago, IL and from people who have some affiliation/allegiance to a competing airline. The majority of those posts have no informative value other than to bash DH.

I would hope that people would only post when they can ADD to a discussion rather than express their prejudices. I fly UA and I fly DH. I've never felt the need to go into the UA forum and deride their chances for survival on a continuous basis.

I'm not a fan of the thread-crappers here and I hope they consider their aims the next time they post.

Do they need any special certification to fly to San Juan? (Some type of overwater flying cert?)

Normally planes without overwater certifications must be within 50 nautical miles (NM) from the coast; however, there is an exemption that DH has applied for with the FAA which would allow it to fly 250 NM from shore (I thought it has been posted here previously, but I couldn't find it). That exemption would make it easy to get to SJU and still be 250 NM from shore using the caribbean islands. From what I understand, there is still a tough approval process to get the exemption but it is much less intense than getting the overwater flying certificate. The exemption will also help flights to Florida, because they will have access to the routes that take them more than 50 NM offshore instead of having to stay close to land.

Anyone see a nice intro fare?

um, remember when panam and eastern both started caribbean service?

you betcha! airlines in desperation think cruise/vacation traffic is easy money. when will they learn?

um, remember when panam and eastern both started caribbean service?

you betcha! airlines in desperation think cruise/vacation traffic is easy money. when will they learn?

Interesting that there have been a couple posts along this line. The move IS a smart business move. However, instead of just offering rhetoric, let's look at some facts.

DH is currently achieving a paltry average fare on West Coast routes, barely over $100 for 5.5 to 6 hours of flight time and fuel burn. The SJU run will clock in at around 3:45 of flight time / fuel burn. Is anyone else aware of the average fare for the WAS-SJU market? It is around $200.

Now, I know the naysayers will chime in with the old rhyme that DH will only dilute this market and knock down the average fare. However, the lowest fare available at 11 weeks out is $169 according to flyi.com. The logic suggests that these fares will sell and SJU will be a profitable market.


Cheers.

Would something like $169 be enought to make it profitable? I mean we know that other airlines charge $200, but do we know if they actually make $$$$ on this route?

Interesting that there have been a couple posts along this line. The move IS a smart business move. However, instead of just offering rhetoric, let's look at some facts.

DH is currently achieving a paltry average fare on West Coast routes, barely over $100 for 5.5 to 6 hours of flight time and fuel burn. The SJU run will clock in at around 3:45 of flight time / fuel burn. Is anyone else aware of the average fare for the WAS-SJU market? It is around $200.

Now, I know the naysayers will chime in with the old rhyme that DH will only dilute this market and knock down the average fare. However, the lowest fare available at 11 weeks out is $169 according to flyi.com. The logic suggests that these fares will sell and SJU will be a profitable market.


Cheers.

Now, I know the naysayers will chime in with the old rhyme that DH will only dilute this market and knock down the average fare. However, the lowest fare available at 11 weeks out is $169 according to flyi.com. The logic suggests that these fares will sell and SJU will be a profitable market.

I'm sure that I am considered one of those 'naysayers'. Anyway, DH has 5 fares in the market right now, (OW) $139, $169, $199, $249, and $399. Maybe the $139s are sold out or they haven't been allocated inventory.
The real question is how many $399 fares will be sold. jetBlue's highest fare JFK-SJU is $349...

Im also one of the naysayers, I dont work for a competing airline and I live in the IAD market. I don't let airline loyalty, my own travel agenda or personal financial gain cloud my opinion of Independence Air. To me, it is strictly business.

It doesn't matter if DH has figured out what routes have robust RASM. The bottom line is they have a poor leadership and a defective business plan that leaves absolutely no room for errors and most likely, no room for financial recovery.

It doesn't matter if DH has figured out what routes have robust RASM. The bottom line is they have a poor leadership and a defective business plan that leaves absolutely no room for errors and most likely, no room for financial recovery.
Though you do have to admin they have an uncanny ability to stay out of bankruptcy. They have managed to pull cash and structural modifications out of a hat to survive months after a bankruptcy seemed like the only option.

I get the feeling that the looked and BK options, and discovered that Ch. 11 wasn't a viable option. So, they decided to work as best they can to work out their own survival. Will they succeed? We will see. If they would have restructured a year ago and cut back their RJ service, and actually taken deliveries of the the Airbus jets, they may be teatering on the edge of profitability now. However, now it may take a near lawless execution to make it. (And they have to survive a couple of lean travel months before they make it to the holiday season.)

um, remember when panam and eastern both started caribbean service?

you betcha! airlines in desperation think cruise/vacation traffic is easy money. when will they learn?


I may be wrong - but I thought that Pan Am and Eastern were in the central/south america and the caribbean LONG LONG LONG before they had problems (or evil leadership like Frank Lorenzo at EA) - These routes were the ones that were being SOLD at the end .....

Im also one of the naysayers, I dont work for a competing airline and I live in the IAD market. I don't let airline loyalty, my own travel agenda or personal financial gain cloud my opinion of Independence Air. To me, it is strictly business.

It doesn't matter if DH has figured out what routes have robust RASM. The bottom line is they have a poor leadership and a defective business plan that leaves absolutely no room for errors and most likely, no room for financial recovery.

What I'm wondering is how many more times I'm going to be subjected to your unsolicited opinions.

I don't think the point of this thread is to opine about the prospects of DH's business plans. Yet that seems to be all you ever care to contribute to the discussion.

If someone had asked the question of whether or not DH has a good business plan, good leadership, or a healthy financial outlook, I'm sure that the answers would be forthcoming. SO why do you keep banging that drum when no one else is playing along?

Trying to get back on topic...

To answer a couple questions. Yes, an average fare of $200 is significantly profitable in this market, unless of course you have very high unit costs (not the case with the A319) and/or you don't get anyone on the planes. Others may disagree, but I am fairly certain the latter also will not happen.

Right, the $139 is a lower listed fare, but it has not been sold yet. Notice that AA has a lowest listed fare of $129 so in fact, DH is entering the market trying to push the price up. You can put some of those $139s out there if necessary and still keep the revenue high. DH does not necessarily need to sell many $399 fares. A bunch of $249 fares will do quite nicely, though of course $399 is better. :)


Cheers.

um, remember when panam and eastern both started caribbean service?

you betcha! airlines in desperation think cruise/vacation traffic is easy money. when will they learn?

Well, in Pan Am and Eastern's days, SJU wasn't homeporting multiple 3000 passenger ships either.

SJU is a popular cruise port with some large ships based there, and airfare there is pretty high. Probably a good move if they can keep themselves in business long enough.

The problem with filling up only on cruise traffic is that most cruises start/end on either Saturday or Sunday; leaving 5 days of the week with seats that need to be filled.

While more focused on the weekends, the SJU cruise traffic seems to be spread out more than just Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is definately a big day, which is probably why a few airlines do a variety of once a week to SJU on Saturday.

I'm not saying that's going to solve all the problems, but cruise traffic should be enough to get some number of passengers on the plane most Fr/Sa/Su/Mo based on the December cruise schedule for SJU.

I doubt that they would undertake the effort required to start this service if they didn't at least think they had a good chance of making it work.

On a side note: I'm more than a little disturbed by the efforts of some posters to take every single bit of news regarding DH and add in "if they stay in business long enough."

I can't help but notice that most of these posts come from locations like Chicago, IL and from people who have some affiliation/allegiance to a competing airline. The majority of those posts have no informative value other than to bash DH.

I would hope that people would only post when they can ADD to a discussion rather than express their prejudices. I fly UA and I fly DH. I've never felt the need to go into the UA forum and deride their chances for survival on a continuous basis.

I'm not a fan of the thread-crappers here and I hope they consider their aims the next time they post.

No bias on this one - if United launched $29-99 OW systemwide fare sales like clockwork for two years straight, I'd question their viability too.